Headlands school wants to become an independent academy

Just 9% of students taking the exam at Headlands School in Stratton gained an A* to C grade in 2005.

It shared the bottom position with New Brompton College in Gillingham, Kent.

But head teacher Jan Shaddick, who took over Headlands in August 2004 after a difficult year which saw a walkout by pupils, said things were improving.

"There is no doubt that Headlands is on the up. Those results reflect four and a half years of very unstable schooling when I wasn't at the school," she said.

"The school is in a different place. We've had two HMI inspections since May last year and we are subject to rigorous monitoring.

"Every one of them is saying that the quality of teaching and learning is going up, that there is strong evidence that our exam results will rise significantly this year and there will be a step change next year."

Just last week, plans were announced to turn Headlands into an Academy School, sponsored by carmaker, Honda.